The secret door
An inconspicuous entrance to sixteenth-century Antwerp.
Johan Bakker — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ludvig14 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fred Romero from Paris, France — CC BY 2.0 · Fred Romero from Paris, France — CC BY 2.0
The Vlaeykensgang is a secret sixteenth-century alley steps from the cathedral: you enter through an inconspicuous little door on the Oude Koornmarkt and find yourself in a winding passage of medieval lanes among white houses, old brick, iron lamps and small courtyards with plants — as if you stepped from the modern city into Antwerp of 1591 in one stride. It housed the poor, the cobblers and the cathedral's bell-ringers, was saved from demolition in the 1960s and carefully restored — today it holds a fine restaurant, an antiques shop and flats. Loveliest when the cathedral's carillon plays (Monday-evening concerts in summer), heard by the alley's residents as their ancestors heard it. Free and open — a few minutes' detour on the route between the Grote Markt and the cathedral, and an unforgettable photograph.
An inconspicuous entrance to sixteenth-century Antwerp.
Old brick, plants and iron lamps.
Oude Koornmarkt 16, 2000 Antwerp
Cathedral of Our LadyAntwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady is the largest and greatest Gothic church in the1 minute walk4.7
DIVA Diamond and Jewellery MuseumDIVA is Antwerp's museum of diamonds, jewellery and silver — the world's diamond1 minute walk4.2
Antwerp City HallAntwerp's City Hall is the first great Renaissance building in the Low Countries1 minute walk4.6
Grote Markt and Brabo FountainThe Grote Markt is Antwerp's great square and historic heart: an irregular trian1 minute walk4.5
De Ruien (Underground Antwerp)De Ruien is Antwerp hidden underground: the network of medieval canals and strea2 minutes walk4.1On the Oude Koornmarkt (south behind the cathedral) look for the small door at number 16 among the cafés — it looks like a private house entrance. Enter and walk the winding passage until you emerge on Pelgrimstraat. Quietly: people live here. Five minutes suffice, and a photo by the iron lamps.